Leather. There are eight local tanneries. The high price of hides affected the business adversely, and the volume of trade fell off by about 10%.
Ginger and Preserves. The volume of business done still showed a decrease and was affected by the price of sugar. There are fourteen factories in the Colony.
Soy. There is no improvement to report in this trade which remains dull.
Paper. The trade still shows satisfactory progress.
Vermilion. The volume of this trade has again fallen off and at the end of the year the demand for this commodity was almost non-existent.
Lard. Much of the lard manufactured in the Colony is exported to the Philippines, where regulations require the purity of animal products to be certified. The local manufacturers of lard made from animals killed in the Colony willingly comply with the regulations. The output still increases. During 1911 a lard and meat factory was started purely in the interests of the Philippine trade.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat population of Hongkong supports itself by deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and also many in the New Territories, are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Since the middle of last year a Steam Trawler has been engaged in fishing over various grounds, and has contributed its hauls to the local markets. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
(d.) FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE AND BOTANY.
The formation of pine-tree plantations in the Harbour Belt between Laichikok and Lyemun has been continued to the extent of about 300 acres, and sites which failed in the area sown in the previous year have been resown. This Belt has now been completed.
Mt. Davis and an area of about 70 acres at Aberdeen where pine-trees were felled in 1910 under the timber contract have been resown with pine-tree seeds.
The areas cleared by fire last year on the slope of Mt. Kellett which descends to Aberdeen have also been resown with pine-tree seeds.
On Mt. Gough, where a fire occurred last year, about 1,800 sites have been sown with seeds of broad-leaved trees.